What Is Spiritual Formality And What Does It Mean

At least fifty percent of every New Testament epistle is devoted to teaching how to live a God-pleasing life via entire submission to the Holy Spirit and obedience. The Bible not only identifies us as the redeemed, rescued saints, sheep, warriors, and slaves, but also teaches us that we can only live up to these titles via the power of the Holy Spirit.

Spiritual formation can refer to either the process and activities by which an individual grows in his or her spiritual or religious life, or to a Protestant Christian movement that stresses these processes and practises. The following procedures may be utilised, but are not limited to:

• Specific prayer and meditation techniques
• A way of life that incorporates spiritual disciplines or exercises
• Understanding and putting historical religious philosophy and techniques into practice
• The understanding and expression of God’s and one’s own truth

Wouter de Jong/ Pexels | Christian spiritual formation is intentional about moving from the experience of Christ’s invitation to the concrete actions of personal transformation

Religion is a broad concept with various perspectives from which religious people may approach it, there are numerous definitions of spiritual formation and no definitive depiction. Most Christians would argue that it is synonymous with sanctification, understood as a progressive and gradual maturation process. It is also known as “being conformed to the image of Christ,” “being made holy,” or “virtue and character formation.”

Spiritual formation is a rather broad term referring to all attempts, means, instruction, and disciplines aimed at deepening faith and furthering spiritual growth,” psychiatrist Gerald G. May writes in Care of Mind, Care of Spirit. It includes both educational pursuits and the more intimate and in-depth process of spiritual direction.

Spiritual formation in modern day 

Pixabay/ Pexels | n broad terms, spiritual formation is the process of spiritual shaping and growth

Today’s spiritual formation movement is very popular. It is, however, a shift away from the truth of God’s Word and toward a mystical form of Christianity that has infiltrated nearly all evangelical denominations to some extent. This concept of spiritual formation is based on the idea that by engaging in certain practices, we can become more like Jesus. Spiritual development advocates wrongly claim that everyone may perform these mystical rites and discover God inside.

Many followers of the current spiritual formation movement believe that spiritual disciplines transform the seeker by allowing him or her to enter an altered state of consciousness. Contemplative prayer, contemplative spirituality, and Christian mysticism are all characteristics of the spiritual formation movement.

Spiritual formation in terms of biblical meaning 

Pixabay/ Pexels | The spiritual formation movement is characterized by such things as contemplative prayer, contemplative spirituality, and Christian mysticism

True biblical spiritual formation begins with the recognition that we are sinners separated from God. Our faculties have been corrupted by sin, and we are unable to please God. True spiritual transformation occurs when we surrender ourselves to God, allowing Him to transform us through the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit.